Watchvideo.online is a scam website promoting a bogus security software
Watchvideo.online is a deceptive site created by crooks to fool users into believing that they need to install antivirus software. The page is apparently promoting a free tool that can protect users' browsers from adware infections and other viruses. While the supposed antivirus offered by the website is “TotalAV” which is a fairly known security suite, it is unlikely that it is exactly what users get when they press the “Install” button.
In reality, the website may infect users with PUPs (potentially unwanted programs),[1] or even malware. People may start experiencing symptoms such as changed browser settings, like the homepage, new tab address, and search engine. Users might also notice an increased amount of commercial content, like pop-ups, banners, and redirects.
This website has some similarities with fake security alerts like the McAfee Total Protection has expired scam. In both of these cases, users are told that they need to get security software to get rid of potential threats. You should never get swayed by scare tactics used by crooks. Always think twice before making a decision to download something from an unknown source.
| NAME | Watchvideo.online |
| TYPE | Phishing attempt; adware |
| SYMPTOMS | A page pops up trying to convince users to supposedly install an antivirus |
| DISTRiBUTION | Shady websites; deceptive ads; freeware installations |
| DANGERS | The program offered by the site may be malicious and cause damage to the system or it may hijack the browser |
| ELIMINATION | Use professional security tools to scan your system for any threats |
| FURTHER STEPS | Deploy a maintenance tool FortectIntego to fix any remaining damage |
Distribution methods
Usually, websites such as Watchvideo.online are not found through the search results. Most of the time, they hide in other shady sites. Many websites that engage in illegal activities are unregulated, full of deceptive ads and sneaky redirects. Illegal streaming platforms sometimes display fake “Download” and “Play” buttons[2] that can redirect users to scam websites.
Scam sites can also appear without any user input. This can happen if there is adware hiding in the system. It is advertising-supported software that can generate commercial content on the machine. One of the most common methods used to spread adware is freeware[3] installation sites. The technique is known as software bundling and is very effective as most people rush through the installation process and skip all the steps.
If you want to avoid that in the future, it is important to be present during the installation. Always choose “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods, read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use to find out what information will be collected and what the application will be allowed to do in your system. The most important part is to check the file list and untick the boxes next to any items that you think are suspicious or unrelated.
Check if your browser is hijacked
You can remove browser add-ons by going to your settings. Find the list of extensions installed in your browser and remove them one by one to see if you notice any changes. We show how to do that in the guide below:
Google Chrome
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click on Uninstall at the bottom.
MS Edge (Chromium)
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Mozilla Firefox
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Safari
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear your browsers from cookies and cache
Websites and web-based applications can monitor users' activity and collect various data using cookies,[4] like the IP address, geolocation, pages they visit, links they click on, and things they purchase online. Most sites use this information to personalize the user experience but it can also be used to make a profit.
That means your data can end up reaching advertising networks or other third parties. Security experts recommend clearing browsers regularly. You can use a maintenance tool like FortectIntego that can get rid of cookies and cache automatically. This powerful software can also fix various system errors, corrupted files, and registry[5] issues, which is especially helpful after a virus infection.
Potentially unwanted programs should be eliminated
The program that is causing the erratic behavior could have any name or icon because crooks often disguise them as “handy” tools. If you are not sure what to do and you do not want to risk deleting the wrong files, we suggest using SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes anti-malware tools that will scan your machine, eliminate it, and prevent such infections in the future by giving you a warning before a PUP can make any changes. If manual removal is what you still prefer, we have instructions for Windows and Mac machines:
Windows 10/8:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Mac:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
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